landscape timber steps

[EddieWalker]

Treated 4x6's and 6x6's are rated for ground contact and should last for quite awhile if you wanted to go the cheapest way possible. Drill a hole through them and run a length of rebar into the ground to hold them in place.

For stairs, your goal is to make each step 7 inches tall. You con go up or down about half an inch either way and be fine, but the other important thing to remember is to have them all the same. 7.25 for every single one if you go a quarter inch up.

A friend back in CA got sued because a tenant at one of his rentals fell on the stairs and the lawyer went and measured the steps. They where all within code for height, but they where also different in height with a range of over half an inch between steps. They tenant won the lawsuit and my friend had to pay for medical bills, and whatever the amount was to make everyone happy. Then he had to tear out the stairs and have new ones built. They own a bunch of property in the area, so it became a very expensive project.

 

[EddieWalker]

Treated 4x6's and 6x6's are rated for ground contact and should last for quite awhile if you wanted to go the cheapest way possible. Drill a hole through them and run a length of rebar into the ground to hold them in place.

For stairs, your goal is to make each step 7 inches tall. You con go up or down about half an inch either way and be fine, but the other important thing to remember is to have them all the same. 7.25 for every single one if you go a quarter inch up.

A friend back in CA got sued because a tenant at one of his rentals fell on the stairs and the lawyer went and measured the steps. They where all within code for height, but they where also different in height with a range of over half an inch between steps. They tenant won the lawsuit and my friend had to pay for medical bills, and whatever the amount was to make everyone happy. Then he had to tear out the stairs and have new ones built. They own a bunch of property in the area, so it became a very expensive project.

 

[forgeblast]

I built a set of timber steps last summer. I used 6x6's cut into 4' sections. The first section was excavated about 8'' so I could but in gravel tamp it down, then put a square section of 6x6s in the bottom. This was leveled and flush with the ground. I then used two pieces of rebar to secure it. Next I put another section of 6x6's but in a U shape on top and timberlocked them. I then excavated and put another U on there 2' back from the edge, I kept doing this until I was at the top. I filled the center in with pea (1b) gravel. Looks great holding up nicely. The only thing I need to do now is go back and add a few pieces of 6x6's to the sides where the slope of the hill makes the hill taller then the step (mini retaining wall).
I shoveled all by hand, the dirt went to shape a swale near my barn. I also found that By slicing into the hill side I had more water run off, So i ripped up the bottom section added perforated pipe sloped to daylight and gravel to solve the water issue and its working wonderfully too. Ill try to get a picture uploaded.

 

[GPintheMitten]

You do not have to have a 7 inch rise. But each rise should be the same. Follow the formula that slash pine mentioned. (double the rise plus the run should be equal to 24 to 25 inches.)

 

[GPintheMitten]

I built a set of timber steps last summer. I used 6x6's cut into 4' sections. The first section was excavated about 8'' so I could but in gravel tamp it down, then put a square section of 6x6s in the bottom. This was leveled and flush with the ground. I then used two pieces of rebar to secure it. Next I put another section of 6x6's but in a U shape on top and timberlocked them. I then excavated and put another U on there 2' back from the edge, I kept doing this until I was at the top. I filled the center in with pea (1b) gravel. Looks great holding up nicely. The only thing I need to do now is go back and add a few pieces of 6x6's to the sides where the slope of the hill makes the hill taller then the step (mini retaining wall).
I shoveled all by hand, the dirt went to shape a swale near my barn. I also found that By slicing into the hill side I had more water run off, So i ripped up the bottom section added perforated pipe sloped to daylight and gravel to solve the water issue and its working wonderfully too. Ill try to get a picture uploaded.

I built mine almost exactly the same way. Your explanation is more clear than what I posted.

 

[chuck172]

I built mine almost exactly the same way. Your explanation is more clear than what I posted.

That's exactly what I intended to do. My wife talked with a contractor, he said they haven't built them like that in years. The pressure treated 6x6's rot away. Reading the posts here, same thing, many feel they rot-out.

 

[KennyG]

More cost and effort, but here is a permanent solution to the steps problem.

When I bought this house, it had timber steps that could have been 25 years old. However, they were so far gone I was afraid to even walk down them. I contracted this out because it's too much for my little tractor and impractical to do working alone. However, three guys and a skid steer did this pretty quickly.

 

[GPintheMitten]

Very nice KennyG.

CHUCK172, given the advice most people are giving you maybe you should go with the retains wall blocks etc.

 

[forgeblast]

I think I have enough drainage, to keep the 6x6s from being water logged, but time will tell. When its all said and done if i need to I can replace with cement, or stone the excavation work is done and that was the biggest job. I forgot that I have to upload the pics to photobucket and then put them here, totally forgot as the hot water heater died, and I had to replace that along with a few other plumbing issues that was near it. When I get a few Ill post the pics.

 

[GLyford]

I've found granite curbstone on craigslist for cheap money now and then...